The purpose of this technical consultation is to seek views on the proposed amendments to the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) methodology, the UK Government's tool for assessing the energy performance of dwellings.

Since its introduction in 1993 SAP has developed over time and now underpin many of Government's energy and environmental policy initiatives, such as Warm Front, Carbon Calculator, Code for Sustainable Homes, Stamp Duty Exemption for Zero Carbon Homes, Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, Building Regulations for England and the Devolved Administrations, etc.

To minimise the disruption to the construction industry SAP revisions are timed to coincide with Amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations for England, the conservation of fuel and power, (currently scheduled for 2010 and 2013) and DECC aims to publish a revised version of the SAP in the latter quarter of 2009, around six months before the Part L Amendment comes into force.

The consultation invites views on the SAP methodology, particularly in the following areas where changes are proposed:

• revised algorithms for the assessment of domestic hot water efficiency;
• impacts of space cooling (air conditioning) - an addition to the methodology;
• an explicit allowance for the impacts of thermal mass; and
• revised internal heat gains assumptions.

In addition, views are sought on the methodology for establishing carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emission factors that has been developed by the BRE; whilst it is not part of the SAP methodology, it is information that SAP relies upon.

The methodology attempts to set out in a transparent manner how carbon emission factors used by SAP are established. It should be noted that the factors can vary over time and the figures obtained by applying the methodology will be review in 2012 and periodically thereafter.

The revised SAP methodology will help inform the Department for Communities and Local Government's impending consultation on the 2010 Amendment to Part L of the Building Regulations for England and there will be a separate opportunity to comment on the proposed Amendment.

The consultation is being run on DECC's behalf by BRE (Building Research Establishment).

The deadline for responses to this consultation is 12th August 2009.

Details of how to submit a response, including the relevant email and postal address, are set out in the Consultation documents, which can be accessed on the BRE website: http://www.bre.co.uk/sap2009

The Welsh Assembly Government has announced that all new planning applications for 5 or more dwellings from September 2009 will need to meet Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 and achieve at least 6 credits under the ENE 1 code.

This means that homes built under the new planning policy will need to reduce emissions by 31% compared to the building regulations. Code Level 3 also requires water use to be reduced from an average of 150 litres per person per day to 105 litres. The policy will apply to all new applications from September 2010 (i.e. applications for one or more dwellings).

A consultation has been published which seeks comments on the draft Technical Advice Note (TAN) 22: Planning for Sustainable Buildings. The consultation closes on 31st July 2009.

For more details visit: http://wales.gov.uk/news/latest/090507greenstandards/?lang=en

To access the consultation details click here.